VOA常速英语2007-Italy Debates New Immigration Law as Illegal Imm

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
31 October 2007

The number of illegal immigrants arriving in Italy from African war-ravaged countries like Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia shows no signs of easing despite rough seas and colder temperatures in the Mediterranean¹. Authorities say the number of arrivals per year has diminished, but they add that the number of people dying during the crossings from Africa has increased. As Italy debates a new immigration law, politicians in the country say Europe needs to speak with one voice. Sabina Castelfranco has a background report for VOA from Rome.

Every day the Italian coast guard, patrolling the waters off the southern coast of Sicily and Calabria, sights a new boat of illegal immigrants. There seems to be no end in sight to the large numbers of Africans fleeing desperate conditions in their own countries.

Despite rougher seas and colder temperatures now that summer has ended, the last few days have seen a constant arrival of boats from the other side of the Mediterranean. Commander Salvatore Cascione, of the Maritime² Office in the southern Calabrian town of Porto Palo spoke³ of the latest arrival Tuesday.

He says there were 223 illegal immigrants, 155 men, 46 women and 22 children. The majority were Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians, and there were entire families on boats.

According to the United Nations more than 350,000 Somalis have fled the war-torn capital Mogadishu this year, and many more are hoping to follow suit. Tension along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border has many people there living in a state of fear. Many also lack adequate food supplies. Those conditions are leading many to flee.

With the difficult situations many Africans face at home, officials are not surprised that some are prepared to risk their lives to make the crossing to Europe. According to Italy's interior ministry⁴, the number of arrivals in the first eight months of the year diminished by 2,000. But the number of casualties increased.

So far in 2007, 200 more people have died at sea than in 2006. On Sunday, at least 18 migrants drowned off Calabria when their boat ran aground and split into pieces.

Cascione says conditions at sea have been dreadful. But he adds that over the past month the vessels⁵ arriving have been larger, between 20 and 24 meters long while before they were between five and six meters.

Italy, like France and Spain has been trying to find ways to stop the illegal flow. One way is through bilateral⁶ accords with countries of origin that allow the repatriation⁷ of these immigrants.

But Marcella Lucidi, an interior ministry official responsible for immigration, says this is not always easy.

Lucidi says the most recent arrivals have come from Egyptian ports, and many of the immigrants declared they were Palestinian. She says they do this in order to avoid a readmission agreement with Egypt which allows the repatriation of illegal immigrants coming from that country. Many Palestinians are stateless and therefore those laws might not apply to them.

Lucidi says that until now Italy, France and Spain have sought bilateral accords with African nations, but she insists the attitude needs to change.

She says Europe must speak with one voice. Repatriation and cooperation agreements need to be reached between countries of origin and Europe as a whole.

Italy is currently debating a new immigration law, and Lucidi explained what she believes should happen in the long-term.

She says immigration flows must be defined by a meeting of supply and demand. She also favors training abroad but says there should be forced repatriation of immigrants arriving illegally on Europe's coasts.

It is unclear if Italy's parliament will approve a new immigration law by the end of this year.

The immigration issue is expected to be top priority at the European Union-Africa summit in Lisbon in early December.

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网